Class notes History

The League of Nations:

Table of contents:
 How was the League organized?
 How far did weaknesses in the League’s organization make
failure inevitable?
 How successful was the League of Nation in the 1920s?
 How far did the Depression make the work of the League more
difficult?
 How successful was the League in the 1930s?



Do all the questions in the red book and answer questions in past papers.
Once you’ve done your research you have to give your final answer.




1. The Organization of the League: IGCSE History League of Nations (i-study.co.uk)

, Background:
- The league was used to dealt with future disputes, in order to avoid another terrible war.
- Unfortunately, the US Senate (Uncle Sam) rejected the idea

- Neither Germany nor the USSR were welcome to join the orgaisation
Aims of the League:
 Avoid aggression between a nation
 Facilitate disarmament
 Improve living and working conditions globally
 Enhance global co-operation, through trade
Structure of League:
 The Assembly:
 Central component of the League
 Admitted new members
 Financed the budget
 Discussed main agenda ideas
 Decisions had to be unanimous
 Met once a year
 The Council: (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan)
 Was organized to settle major disputes
 Each permanent member had a veto
 Administer economic sanctions or muster an international force (if agreed)
 Germany=permanent member=1926
 The League of Nations Commissions:
 Set up to dealt with problem caused in the First World War (refugees, global health,
and working conditions)
 Health Committee
 The Mandates Committee
 The Refugee Committee
 The Permanent Court of Justice: (set in Hague)
 The Court would give decisions on border disputes, and passed any laws
 Gave legal advice to the Assembly and Court
 Main responsibility: came in upholding or amending peace treaties
 International Labour Organization:
 Brought back together employers, employees, and governments to try and create a
better working condition
 Collected information
 Advised the government
 The Secretariat:
 Did the office work
 Translated documents
 Kept records

Point of Strength and weaknesses in organization:

 The Assembly:

 Only met once a year

 in a fast-moving world where technology was speeding up events=disaster, events
were often over before they could be dealt with!

 Decisions had to be unanimous - this made it very difficult, as everyone had to agree.